Bahrain Shura Council in plans to overhaul infrastructure cost assessment criteria

TDT | Manama                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Lawmakers are preparing to vote on a proposal aimed at revising and enhancing the criteria for evaluating infrastructure costs.

Currently, the cost is uniformly set at 12 dinars per square meter, regardless of regional disparities, property locations, or intended purposes.

Members of the Shura Council argue that this approach requires modification.

They advocate for considering factors such as location, area, property usage, and proximity to government facilities and markets in determining the “Infrastructure Cost Recovery Fee.”

Their objective is to promote equity and increase revenue generated from infrastructure expenses.

The proposal, tabled by members including Dr Mohammed Ali Hassan, Ali Al Shehabi, Ejlaal Al Bubshait, Saad Al Rahma, and Talal Al Manaie, has received recommendations for approval from the Public Facilities and Environment Committee of the Shura Council.

In its report, the committee asserts the legislator’s prerogative to establish regulations and criteria for estimating infrastructure costs to ensure fairness among property owners subject to regulatory laws and to protect their rights by evaluating various alternatives.

The proposal seeks to amend the second paragraph of Article 6 of the “Infrastructure Cost Recovery Law.” The revised paragraph stipulates that infrastructure costs should consider factors such as “property location, size, number of floors, intended use, street access, and proximity to public services, government facilities, and markets.”

The Public Facilities and Environment Committee of the Shura Council underscores that collecting infrastructure construction and development costs in development areas is conducted in exchange for services.

This includes establishing infrastructure facilities in new development areas lacking such amenities and enhancing existing infrastructure facilities in established development areas.